Mitt Romney on Drugs

Former Republican Governor (MA); presidential nominee-apparent

We share cross-border drug problem with Mexico

Q: Mexico's President-elect will inherit a drug war that has taken more than 65,000 lives in the past 6 years. Would you ask him to continue with the same strategy, or change the strategy to avoid more deaths?

A: I'd tell him that this is a problem
that we share, that this is not Mexico's problem. We have a responsibility in this country to reduce drug usage. The fact that there is a drug world, narco-crime and terrorism, and that these cartels are terrorizing the people of Mexico, and some of that
violence spills over our border. That's due to the demand here in this country. And so the US must make a priority of helping reduce demand in this country, and communicating to our young people, and older people, that when they use these illegal drugs,
they are contributing to the deaths of people around the world. So I'm going to make that a priority. That's #1. And #2, I'm going to let him know that we want to help, as we did in Colombia with intelligence work and surveillance work.

Opposes legalization of recreational or medical marijuana

The former Massachusetts governor opposes the legalization of recreational or medical marijuana, although he endorsed the use of synthetic pot. In his most recent book,
No Apology, he attributes the legalization movement to "the passion and zeal of those members of the pleasure-seeking generation that never grew up."

Source: Tim Murphy in Mother Jones magazine
, Apr 20, 2011

Mandatory sentence & higher penalty for repeat drunk driving

In 2003, 13-year-old Melanie Powell was walking to the beach with a friend when she was killed by a drunk driver. It soon came to light that the driver was a repeat offender. In 2003 Massachusetts drunk driving laws--some of the weakest in the nation--
undoubtedly contributed to the frequency of senseless accidents.

Romney proposed “Melanie’s Bill” to crack down on drunk drivers. The bill called for higher penalties and mandatory sentences for repeat offenders. It increased license suspensions for
people who knowingly allowed someone to use an automobile if he or she had a suspended license from drunk driving. It required that cars from arrested drivers be impounded. Also, vehicles of repeat offenders had to be equipped with ignition interlock
systems, which wouldn’t allow cars to start unless the driver passed a Breathalyzer test.

Within a year of the new law, repeat offender arrests had been cut in half. The number of arrested drivers with prior drunken-driving convictions dropped 17%.

Combat the ruthless narco-terrorists in Colombia

On the 197th anniversary of Colombia’s independence, we honor the many contributions that Colombian-Americans have made to our country. We also express our abiding solidarity with the Colombian people, who are fighting to secure their country’s future
from leftist guerrillas and narco-terrorists who have thrived on terror, violence and corruption for too many years.

A safe and prosperous Western Hemisphere requires a strong and democratic Colombia. The US must continue to provide strong support for
Colombia’s efforts to combat the ruthless narco-terrorists that operate there. Our partnership with Colombia contributes to our security and our quality of life: sowing stability in a critical region and helping keep deadly drugs off our streets. We can
and must consolidate the gains we have made in Colombia by strengthening the economic ties between our countries. The U.S. Congress must treat this vital ally with the respect Colombia deserves and move forward now with the free trade agreement.